Nice, France. Following elections, Juan José Gulino was elected Grand Master of the Grand Orient of France. Gulino was the only candidate, given that his rival Pierre-Hubert Gouttière left the elections last week.

Gulino is 63 years and served as Grand Treasurer under the direction of Guy Arcizet. The Moral of Guy Arcizet report was approved with 90% of the votes (1023 in favour and 109 against). Tomorrow will take place the closure of the Annual Communication, which will be attended by delegations from abroad.

Bucharest, Romania. Today we celebrated three years since the founding of the Masonic Press Group of Romania. On 30 August 2009, APMR and Jornal Maçônico were the two entities founding GPMR. At that time, GPMR covered the all Masonic spaces speaking Romanian, Spanish and Portuguese.

Currently, GPMR represents a Masonic media infrastructure covering spaces speaking Romanian, Spanish, English, Portuguese, Italian and French. At the same time, August 30, 2012 marks two years since the founding of the Secretariat General, a structured aimed to coordinate and manage APMR's internal and external policies and hence GPMR's too.

Maputo, Mozambique. Brother João Carlos Trindade was elected Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Mozambique, being the second person to hold this position since the founding of the Grand Lodge. The first Grand Master was Brother Ussumane Aly Dauto (former Minister of Justice).

João Carlos Trindade is Judge Advisor at the Supreme Court of Justice of Mozambique and Director of the Legal and Judicial Training Centre in Mozambique. During 1994-1995 he was President of the Electoral Tribunal.

Helena, United States of America. The unprecedented events in the history of Freemasonry in Montana have made ​​the Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Montana to issue a circular to all members of the Grand Lodge.

Thom Chisholm announced that the Past Grand Master was tried and found guilty of all the accusations being removed from office. He also announces that the Grand Secretary Reid Gardiner was reinstated in office, this after he was dismissed by Past Grand Master Thomas Duffy.

Cincinnati, United States of America. Neil Armstrong died on 25 August 2012 at the age of 82 years. Armstrong entered the golden book of Freemasonry, being a model for many generations. He will be buried with state honors Friday.

Berlin, Germany. The United Grand Lodges of Germany are preparing for the celebration of 275 years since the founding of the oldest Masonic Lodges in the country. "Absalom zu den drei Nesseln" Lodge in Hamburg next month reaches the venerable age of 275 years.

To mark this event were planned some events such as:

1. A Masonic Exhibition at the City Hall (15 to 30 September 2012)2. A Masonic Exhibition at the Chamber of Commerce (September 20-November 2, 2012)3. An outdoor Masonic Exhibition (September 24 to 27, 2012)4. A Masonic Concert at Hamburg's Philharmonic Hall (September 30, 2012)

Asuncion, Paraguay. The Symbolic Grand Lodge of Paraguay has decreed three days of mourning following the death of Brother Ruben Quevedo Martinez, President of the Grand Committee for Health of the Grand Lodge. All Grand Lodge activities were suspended for three days and the funeral took place today along a Masonic ceremony organized by the Lodge of which he was part.

Moscow, Russia. Two weeks ago took place the Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Russia, the sole in the Russian Federation to be recognized by the United Grand Lodge of England.

Five days ago, Angel Jorge Clavero (Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Argentina) was observed on 16 august in Victory Park in Moscow, accompanied by Andrei Bogdanov, Grand Master of Russia. The two placed ​​two bouquets of red carnations.

Brasilia, Brazil. On Freemasons' Day, Brazilian senators have shattered myths about Freemasonry. United today at Brasilia's Congress, leaders of Freemasonry (Marcos José da Silva - Grand Master of the Grand Orient of Brazil, Lucas Francisco Galdeano - Grand Master of the Federal District, Juvenal Batista Amaral - Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the Federal District, José Simon - President of the Confederation of Symbolic Masonry of Brazil and a representative of the United Grand Lodge of England) and federal authorities paid tribute to all Freemasons in the country.

senator Mozarildo Cavalcanti

On this occasion, the senators from all political families took the opportunity to dismantle the myths surrounding the Masonic Order. Among the Senators who spoke were: Mozarildo Cavalcanti (PTB-RR), Alvaro Dias (PSDB-PR) and Tomás Correia (PMDB-RO).

Brasilia, Brazil. The entire Masonic community of Brazil celebrates today Freemasons' Day. The event marks a national official day dedicated by authorities to all Freemasons in the country. On August 20, all over Brazil take place special ceremonies where Freemasons, Congressmen and Senators along other officials attend conferences, public speeches and special commemorations.

Bucharest, Romania. This week APMR and Masonic Times stared working on a new project regarding India. Starting with this week Masonic Times will dedicate periodically special reports on the latest news from India. The program will last until June 2013 after which will be analyzed and if positive will continue.

Arica, Chile. Chile's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Fernando Schmidt, received on Friday the Grand Master of Chile, Luis Riveros Cornejo. The leader of Chilean Freemasonry handed him the Masonic Declaration of Arica asking the governments of Chile, Bolivia and Peru to provide a framework for development of peace, brotherhood and integration of the three nations, improving the education system, according to Jurnal Masonic.

Lima, Peru. The Executive Secretary of the Inter-American Masonic Confederation, Tomás Alvarez Manrique, has elected the new team with which he will manage the confederation. After the elections that took place in Brazil this year, IMC's Executive Secretariat headquarters was moved from Guatemala to Peru for the period 2012-2015.

Washington, United States of America. One of the sphinxes from of the Temple, a symbol of the American capital, was splashed with pink paint. The monument also called the House of the Temple, is a replica of one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World, the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus.

Montevideo, Uruguay. The Feminine Grand Lodge of Uruguay has awarded a series of figures to celebrate 5 years of its foundation. Artemisa Award was given by MW Grand Master Alicia Toyos to the following personalities:

Nibya Mariño - one of the most popular South American pianist who was initiated into the secrets of music by Master Kolischer at the age of 5 years. At age 11, Arthur Rubinstein helps her enter Ernest Ansermet Orchestra at the Colon Theatre in Buenos Aires. Nibya received a scholarship to study in Paris fro the Government of Uruguay. She has performed at Carnegie Hall and Town Hall in New York.

Renzo Pi Hugarte - professor and anthropologist, awarded by the Feminine Freemasonry of Uruguay for his service to humanity through his work as stated by Grand Master Alicia Toyos. Pi Hugarte died yesterday at the age of 78.

Silvia Tron Armand-Ugon - is a journalist and teacher of English and French, participating in numerous meetings on aging.

Federico García Vigil - is a Master, composer and was director of the Philharmonic Orchestra of Montevideo. Also, he led the Symphony Orchestras of Bogota, Bucharest, Caracas, Chicago, Rio de Janeiro, Madrid, Vancouver, Palma de Mallorca, Tokyo etc. Alicia Toyos gave this award for having made ​​known worldwide the Uruguayan classical music.

Andrés Flores Colombino - is a professor and doctor specialized in geriatric-gerontological and psychiatrist at the University of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay.

Buenos Aires, Argentina. The Grand Lodge of Argentina proposed a series of conferences on sustainable development and sustainable use of resources. In this respect, the Grand Lodge raises the issue of mega-mining in the country.

The first conference will be held on 21 august, under the auspices of the Grand Lodge of Argentina.

Ajaccio, France. Masonic Times announces a new Grand Lodge in France: the Sovereign Grand Lodge of Corsica. According the same source, this is a product of the scandal within the French Freemasonry (GLNF). SGLC was established on March 7, 2012, and is composed of 4 Lodges and about 100 Freemasons.

Edinburgh, United Kingdom. During 12 to 14 October 2012 will be held the Conference of Grand Secretaries and Chancellors of Europe, event organized this year by the Grand Lodge of Scotland, informs David M. Begg, Grand Secretary. The next Conference will take place in 2013 and will be organized by the Grand Orient of Italy.

Luxembourg, Luxembourg. The Past Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Luxembourg, Brother Victor Gillen, is the new President of the State Council of the Grand Duchy Luxembourg. Gillen graduated from the Faculty of Jurisprudence of Nancy, is a lawyer and member of the State Council since 1999. On January 18, 2012, he was appointed Vice President of the State Council, and during 1994-2003 he was Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Luxembourg.

Berlin, Germany. The appearance of the Berlin Charter raised questions about the Masonic stability in France. According to the document signed by the Grand Masters of Germany, Luxembourg, Belgium, Austria and Switzerland, we may note that there was intention of some Grand Lodges to intervene in the formation of a new Grand Lodge or to recognize an already existing Grand Lodge other than the Grand Lodge of France.

London, United Kingdom. Last night took place the closing ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games. The event was marked by symbolism, especially in the last part of the ceremonies, the show being watched by the whole world.

In 2016 it will be Brazil's turn to organize the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, where Freemasons of the Grand Masonic Jurisdiction of Brazil will actively participate. APMR has published on its Facebook account some 500 photos from last night's ceremony.

Seborga, Italy. Tonight at 21.15 (Italy's time zone) will be organized a concert in honor of Brother Walt Disney. The Chamber Orchestra of the Principality of Seborga will perform in the Piazzetta San Martino under the baton of Director and Brother Vitaliano Gallo (Grand Orient of Italy).

Havana, Cuba. Between 12 to 15 September 2012 will take place an International Conference on "Freemasonry and integration in the current society." The event is organized by the Supreme Council of Cuba led by Lázaro Faustino Cuesta Valdés. According to the latest information, Gustavo Raffi, Grand Master of Grand Orient of Italy announced his presence at this event.

The conference will focus on four themes: Freemasonry's actuality and perspectives in the context of culture, Directives and priorities at the cutting edge regarding the challenges of science and technology, Freemasonry and society, Freemasonry in front of environmental deterioration.

Bucharest, Romania. The National Grand Lodge of Romania is in mourning after the death of the Assistant of the Grand Master Radu Balanescu, Brother Nicolae Alexandru Iorga. He was founder and Worshipful Master of Mihail Kogălniceanu Lodge #65, and from 2010 he served as NGLR's Assistant Grand Master. More information about Brother Iorga in tomorrow's edition of Jurnal Masonic.

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NEWSLETTER

IN MEMORIAM Alicia TOYOS

EXCLUSIVE | Interview with the first (woman) Grand Master in the history of the Republic of Uruguay, Alicia TOYOS | This interview has an exclusive character, being part of the Exclusive Collection of Interviews of the Masonic Agency. The republication (total and/or partial publication) of this interview is strictly prohibited.